NOT PAYING RENT IS NEWS?
The “Police Raid Almaden Street Home” article of Sept. 28 is confusing and concerning to me. Why is someone not paying their rent and then demanding they be sold the house newsworthy? Of the EW employees who rent a house, do they support this concept? It was not a “raid.” I expect many notices were given over months. This article is like a Fox News report — short on facts, large on emotional hype.
I feel the saddest part was the renter playing her race card, “in a state historically unfriendly to Black people.” I wish King the best, but your events are color blind.
Don French
Eugene
COOS BAY PORT AUTHORITY HIDING ITS PLANS
The Coos Bay Port Authority (CBPA) has applied for a $1.2 billion federal government mega-grant to fund a massive multi-modal container ship port on Coos Bay’s North Spit. The Port Authority has been saying forever that this project, which will require blasting miles of bedrock from the bay to enlarge the channel for massive 1,200-foot container ships, will bring unfathomable benefits to the Bay Area.
However, when two local citizens’ groups, including the League of Women Voters of Coos Bay, requested copies of the mega-grant application, the CBPA refused to provide that document. The CBPA is not only being less than transparent about its plans, it seems to be actively stonewalling the public’s right to know before American taxpayers are put on the hook.
One might ask, if this is such a great project, why is the Port Authority keeping its plans secret? Are its grandiose claims exaggerated? Are risks and potential impacts to the Coos Bay ecosystem, its fisheries and the Bay Area’s quality of life being downplayed? Does the CBPA have something to hide from taxpayers and Bay Area residents? Don’t you think it’s high time we and the taxpayers get to see what the CBPA has in store for us?
Ken Bonetti
North Bend
A Note From the Publisher
Dear Readers,
The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.
That’s because of you!
Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.
Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.
We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.
And, of course, we’ve continued to bring you the stories and features many of you depend on: investigations and local government reporting, arts and culture coverage, sudoku and crossword puzzles, Savage Love, and our extensive community events calendar. We feature award-winning stories by University of Oregon student reporters getting real world journalism experience. All free. In print and online.
None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.
As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.
Thank you for standing with us!
Publisher
Eugene Weekly
P.S. If you’d like to talk about supporting EW, I’d love to hear from you!
jody@eugeneweekly.com
(541) 484-0519
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